Snowshoe tread



F. R. WINCENTSEN SNOWSHOE TREAD Nov. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. l, 1951 r `1NVENTOR- -Z'sen ATTORNEY NOV. 25, 1952 F R, W|NENT5EN 2,618,869

SNOWSHOE TREAD Filed oct. 1, 1951 l l 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Fores 7?. Wz'ncensen jij@ ATTORNEY NOV- 25, 1952 F. R. wlNcr-:NTSEN 2,618,869

I lSNoWsl-IOE TREAD Filed Oct. l, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 K' -INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1952 SNQWSHOE TREAD Forest R". Wincentsen, Rhinelander, Wis., as-

signor of one-third to Edward Marik, Rhine lander, Wis., and one-thirdto Robert A. Burns,

Wakefield, Mich.

Appiication October l, 1951, Serial No. 249,127

(Cl. Sii-4.5)

6 Claims. l

This invention relates` to snow shoes. and more particularly a new and novel tread for the same.

One of the objects of this invention resides in the provision of a tread for snow shoes of light weight and of such construction that but little or no snow will collect thereon.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a tread for snow shoes adapted to be easily manipulated when encountering obstructions such as fallen trees, logs, ice and etc. in the path of the user thereof.

A. further object of this invention resides in the provision of a snow shoe having a sole of skeleton construction adapted to be easily removed when damaged or distorted and replaced by a new one.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of asnow shoe having a sectional sole removably secured thereto.

Aside from theaforesaid objects this invention resides in the particular construction of the frame thereof.

ln` addition tothe foregoing objects, this invention resides in the particular construction oi the sections of the sole.

One of the .salientl features of this invention resides in the combination oi' the trarne, soie and calks removably attache-d thereto.

With these and other objects in view, this invention residesin certain novel features of construction and arrangement of elements to be hereinafter more particularly set forth in the specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed cut in the appended claims and; although this disclosure depicts my present conception of the invention, the right is reserved to resort to such departures therefrom as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application:

Fig. l is a side view of the treadk of a snow shoe.

2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3, is a bottom View of the tread.

Fig. a' is an enlarged cross sectional View taken approximately-on line -li of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view oia. portion of the tread .rowing call-:s secured thereto.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view ci portions or the interlocking ends oi the sole.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the caiks.

Fig. Sis a plan View of a modified forin oi the tread. n

Fig. 9 isa bottom view thereor. l

Fig. l is an enlarged cross sectional view taken approximately on line id-iii oflig. S.

Fig. l1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken approximateiy online l i-l I oi Fig. 8.

Fig. l2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the intermediate portion of the snow shoe tread showing the sandal secured thereon.

In the present illustration of this invention the numeral designates. in general, a tread for snow shoes which is formed` ofA suitable light metal, such as Savurbak or the like and consists. of a substantially inverted V-shaped hollow frame 6, in cross. section, having a substantially rectangular strip l secured to its inner wall above the bottom surface of the frame to form a seat 8 in which is disposed thevouter edge por-tion of sections of skeleton soles 9 secured therein by countersunk screws lil which may be replaced by callis Il having threaded studs l2v thereon.

Extending laterally of the frame and connecting the opposite sides are substantially inverted V-shaped front and rear cross bars i3 and Id while metal sleeves iii` secure front and rear sections l and il ofthe'frarne together and where the fra-me is formed from a single piece of metal, the sleeves so disposed function to strengthen the frame in the region of its longitudinal center.

Secured to the frame in a like manner as the aforesaid cross bars an drearwardly of the front one thereof, is an intermediate cross bar I8 having a flat central area S9 for supporting the ball of the foot and also substantially V-shaped end portions Zl. Formed in the inner opposed. ends of said V-shaped portions of cross bar 8 are threaded apertures 2i to. receive screws for connecting a conventional sandal or the like (not shown) to the tread. Disposed forwardly of said flat area is a substantially rectangular opening 22 to permit the toe portion of the sandal to enter therein during walking of the user.

The opposed ends of the sole sections are removably mortised together, as indicated by the letter A, and secured to the lower sides of the frame and elected cross bars thereabove by the aforesaidV screws or caiks, it being within the purview oi this invention to substitute any ap proved type of caik for those herein shown and arrange them on the bottoni of the tread as found niost serviceable for `the terrain to be traversed.

Although the traine is recited as being of substantially sl-shape in cross section, it is preferably forrned of strong material light in weight having. a substantially inverted V-shaped upper portion B merging into vertical outer and inner sides C and D of diiierent heights. The long outer side C merges into a horizontal bottom E extending inwardly and provided with a vertical flange F spaced from the shorter side D between which and the aforesaid flanges is secured, as by welding or the like, the strip threaded apertures I-I therein for reception of those screws used to secure the sole sections thereon. Through said construction of the frame a seat 8 is formed around the lower inner thereof for reception of the edge portions of the sole sections so that lower surfaces coincide with the lowei` surof'said horizontal bottoni E to form a smooth f: bearing area on the snow.

in order tov permit ther tread to yield over the snow and obstructionsinits path, itsfront end is bent upwardly. However, it isV within the purview of this invention to dispose the entire treads on a horizontal plane throughout its length. Further, it is understood that the skeleton construction of the soles may be of any design whereby present results and advantages are obtained. v

In the modified form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 8 to l1 inclusive, the letter A designates a tubular frame having inwardly directed bottom and upper flanges B' and C' provided with apertures D through which countersunk screws E extend to removably secure the skeleton sole sections 9 thereto. The aforesaid flanges are welded or otherwise secured to the inner lower side of the frame with the bottom one preferably being of greater thickness than the upper one and disposed on that horizontal plane occupied by the lower edge of the frame to provide an even contact thereof with snow or other surfaces traversed.

Welded or otherwise secured in horizontal alignment with the aforesaid bottom flanges are apertured bottom cross pieces F arranged throughout the length of the frame in a manner similar to that shown in the preferred form of the invention while likewise secured to the upper flanges of the frame are front, intermediate and rear cross bars G', H and J which have laterally and forwardly extending inverted U-shaped ribs K formed along their medial portions to strengthen the same. The aforesaid medial cross bar H is provided with a centrally disposed flat area H" disposed rearwardly cf an opening L for a purpose similar to that of the ilat area i9 and opening 22 set forth in the preferred form of the invention. Said cross piece, like the aforesaid ilanges, are provided with countersunk screw holes through which screws M' are extended to secure the skeleton soles thereto, it being within the purview of this invention to replace the screws with calks at desired points throughout the tread as heretofore set forth and also provide the soles with staggered joints Where they are attached to the cross pieces.

With this invention fully set forth, it is manifest that a strong snow shoe tread light in weight is provided which will accumulate an unnoticeable amount of snow thereon and, through the particular construction of the frame and soles, replacement of the latter is permitted with little or no effort.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A snow shoe tread comprising a frame having a seat around the inner side thereof, cross bars connecting opposite sides of the frame adjacent its front and rear ends, sectional soles of skeleton configuration having their outer edge portions disposed in the aforesaid seat, an intermediate cross bar connecting opposite sides of the frame at points to the rear of the front cross bar, a flat area formed on the intermediate cross bar midway between the sides of the frame and rearwardly of a substantially rectangular opening between certain sections of the soles, means removably securing the soles in the aforesaid seat and to the bottom of said cross bars, and means on the intermediate cross bar for removably attaching a sandal to the fiat area thereof.

2. A snow shoe tread comprising a substantially inverted V-shaped hollow frame in cross section having a seat around the lower portion of its inner side, a substantially rectangular strip having a plurality of threaded apertures in its lower surface secured within the frame at the top of said seat, front, rear and intermediate cross bars of substantially V-shaped configuration connecting the sides of the frame and having their lower surfaces lying on that horizontal plane occupied by the lower surface of the aforesaid strips and having threaded apertures in their lower surfaces, sole sections of skeleton configuration having mortised abutting ends disposed against the lower surfaces of said cross bars with their edge portions disposed in said seat, countersunk screws removably securing the mortised ends of the sole sections to the cross bar and their edge portions in said seats, and a sandal supporting area formed on the upper side of the tread rearwardly of an opening for receiving the toe portion of the users sandal when walking.

3. A snow shoe tread including a substantially V-shaped frame connected by similarly shaped cross bars, sole sections of skeleton configuration removably secured to the bottom of the frame and cross bars, and a sandal supporting area formed on the upper side of the tread.

4. A snow shoe tread comprising a substantially inverted V-shaped frame in cross section having its front curved upwardly, sole sections of skeleton conilguration having their edge portions removably secured in a seat around the lower portion of the inner side of the frame and their abutting edges mortised together, and a sandal supporting area on the upper side of the tread.

5. A snow shoe tread including a tubular frame, inwardly directed flanges formed on the inner lower portion of the frame, laterally extending cross pieces secured to the side members of the frame at selected longitudinal points thereof, laterally and upwardly extending inverted V-shaped ribs formed on the medial portion of the cross pieces, a sandal supporting area formed on certain of said cross pieces, skeleton soles disposed on said flanges and cross pieces below that horizontal plane occupied by the upper edges of the aforesaid ribs, certain of the soles having an opening therebetween and forwardly of the sandal supporting area, and fastening elements eX- tending through the lower sides of said flanges and cross pieces removably connecting the skeleton soles thereto.

6. A snow shoe tread including a substantially tubular frame, an inwardly directed bottom flange formed on the inner lower portion of the frame, an inwardly directed upper flange of lesser thickness than the bottom flange formed on the inner side of the frame and resting on the bottom flange, laterally extending bottom cross pieces of a thickness equal to the bottom llanges secured thereto and lying on that horizontal plane occupied by the lower side of the frame, said cross pieces being disposed throughout the length of the frame at selected points thereon, upper cross pieces resting on the lower cross pieces and having their medial portions bent into substantially inverted U-shaped configuration and their ends rigidly secured to the upper flanges of the frame, sectional skeleton soles resting on the upper flanges and cross pieces with their lateral edges abutting the aforesaid U-shaped portions of the cross pieces, a sandal supporting area formed on certain of said cross pieces rearwardly of a centrally disposed opening between sole sections forwardly thereof, and fastening means removably securing the aforesaid skeleton sections within the frame and to the aforesaid ilanges and cross pieces.

FOREST R. WINCENTSEN.

No references cited. 

